Shift linkage adjust--How to get tranny into neutral?
 

My shift linkage got loose, so trying to adjust it. Bushing changed a couple years ago, so that's not the problem.

Searched threads, and got a lot of helpful info, but confused about one thing:
With the hatch open, I loosened the retaining bolt, which pinches the shift rod to the spline on the shift coupler.
Per all of the threads i've read, the next step is to "Put the Transmission in Neutral"--how do you do that? Do you move the shift coupler fore/aft? Instructions I've read said to turn the shift coupler "counterclockwise", when facing the front of the car. Does this turning counterclockwise put the tranny in neutral?

I did this, and moved the shift lever to the left (towards 1/2 gear plane), and retightened the retaining bolt. When I put the shift lever into the 1st gear position, it feels like 3rd gear. 3rd gear position also feels like 3rd gear. Reverse works.

What am I doing wrong? How to adjust this, so I get 1st gear back?

Help!

This is something I have done several times.

The fore aft movement puts you in neutral the twist selects the plane 1-2, 3-4, 5-R

You need to do it a few times to figure it out. I use a loosly clamped vise grip on the coupler that is tied to the trans. Then a second one on the shift rod. I can then rotate them both and tighten the clamping bolt. Takes a few tries to get right. Make sure the reverse lock out it working too. That is set by lengthening or shorteningthe rod length that is over the coupler end

Oh, and with fixed back front seats there is no room to work. A pain for sure but getting it right is worth the effort

I just changed bushings on my shift and had some difficulty the first time around, so then I went back and re-read my Bentley manual very carefully. I found neutral before I loosened the pinch bolt on the coupler. Then I loosened the pinch bolt, turned the transmission coupling over toward the passenger side and pulled the shifter to the 1st/2nd plane (shifter coupling then also goes over toward passenger side) and tightened the pinch bolt. Agreed that you have to play a bit with the length to get the lock out working correctly.

Suggestion. Small adjustments can make a big difference in ease of gear selection. Once close, scribe or paint small facing marks on the shift coupler rod and the clamping ring. Use those marks as a visual reference when making final fore-aft and left-right adjustments.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood

as for the "small adjustments" the other day I wanted to do a little "tweek" and ended up re-doing the whole bloody thing... its hard to make minor adjustments since space is limited and you are working in an akward possition... plus a small move makes bigger changes than you would think....

in the end i got mine the best its ever been, very very happy I re-did it... I have a Seine shift (replica) so holding the shifter in the 1-2 plane requires pushing against a spring....its like doing 4 things with two hands...a little bit of a trick but as I said, worth the effort

I've often used a crook-lock or a steering wheel club for things like this. You can use them to apply the foot brake too or to push on anything that you need pushing on when you need a third hand / foot.

Probably not correct but if you are working alone it's an option.

LOL.. I used a ski pole for a brake hold... left it there for 2 weeks, didnt loose a drop of fluid. Like you say, when working alone....and in a pinch sometimes we get "creative"

So how do you find neutral?????
By moving the coupler fore/aft, how do I know when I'm in neutral?

thanks

You should be able to hear and feel it come out of gear and fall into the nuetral area

All good suggestions. I got p*77ed at re-doing mine, so I welded the nut on the clamp ring. Now I can do the adjustment one handed while sitting forward in the driver's seat, reaching rearward to the service cover area. Cuts the adjustment time in half, if not more. As Ed says, we get creative.

good idea Rus, half the battle is holding the wrench on the bolt head (which is tilted over) and tightening the nut without letting loose the tension on the coupler, the shifter and the rod....I like your idea!

Are you moving the coupler fore/aft? turning it clockwise/counterclockwise?
What are you feeling for?--less resistance?
What are you listening for? clunk?

I know these may be dumb questions, but it's not intuitive , at least not for me:)

thanks

You do have the pinch bolt tight for locating neutral, correct? It should 'feel' like resistance letting up suddenly.... just like when you shift any transmission from 1st-to-2nd or 3rd-to-4th (provided it's not a 901 or race tranny). A little 'click' (and you come out of gear), then no resistance (neutral), then further another 'click' (and you are into the other gear).